Experiencing pain in any part of the body is never a nice feeling, but tooth pain in particular can be very difficult to deal with.
Anyone who has ever experienced really severe tooth pain will know how much it can impact your daily life and how disruptive an experience it can be.
Our mouths are one of the most used parts of the body, and we use them for everything from eating and drinking to communicating, so naturally any pain or discomfort there is something you will want to find a solution to quickly.
Identifying Your Tooth Pain
Tooth pain also comes in many different forms.
Sharp and severe tooth pain can stop you from enjoying food and drink, and a persistent, dull tooth pain can be a constant distraction.
Pinpointing the type of tooth pain you are experiencing may help you to find a solution to your problem.
Tooth Pain From Sensitivity
One of the most common reasons for tooth pain is sensitivity in your teeth.
Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity, and it can be caused by a number of different factors.
If you have noticed a change in your tooth sensitivity levels recently, with hot or cold drinks and food leaving you in discomfort, you should start by trying out a different toothpaste formulated for sensitivity. Some toothpastes are specially formulated to help restore some of your tooth’s natural protection to rapid temperature changes.
If that doesn’t help or if your symptoms get worse, you may be suffering from a damaged or cracked tooth, and there is a chance that you may require a filling or other dental work.
Cold or hot liquid making its way past the hard outer surface of the tooth to the sensitive inner tooth is what causes the pain, and if that is happening through a cavity or a crack then your dentist may recommend a dental filling.
Pain In One Tooth
If your tooth pain is consistently coming from one particular tooth, then that can be a sign of an isolated problem.
Unlike sensitivity, which usually affects a wider area of the mouth, pain from one specific tooth usually points to a problem that will require some dental attention.
Your pain could be coming from something as simple as a cavity or something more insidious, like a root canal infection.
If the pain gets worse or does not subside, make an appointment with your dentist for a consultation. In the meantime, you can try to manage the pain by taking painkillers and very gently brushing the area.
Sometimes tooth pain can be caused by a simple piece of trapped food. Gentle brushing and flossing can help to alleviate the pain by removing the food.
Sharp Tooth Pain
Sharp tooth pain can sometimes be a sign of an infection.
A dental x-ray is usually the easiest way for your dentist to tell if there is an infection that requires further treatment.
In the majority of cases, a basic course of antibiotics can help to quickly get infections under control.
Wisdom Tooth Pain
Dull, ongoing tooth pain could be caused by problems with your developing wisdom teeth.
There are many reasons why your developing wisdom teeth might be causing you pain.
In some ways, this type of tooth pain can be the least severe, as patients usually describe it as a softer, duller but more persistent pain which makes it a little bit easier to manage.
There is almost always some pain associated with wisdom teeth coming through, even if they are growing healthily and normally, so there may not be any need to be concerned.
Sometimes though, wisdom teeth can grow through at an incorrect angle, or try to grow through where there just isn’t space for them in the gumline.
If this happens, your dentist may recommend removing the wisdom tooth to prevent it from negatively impacting the rest of your smile.
If that is the case, a simple tooth extraction procedure is relatively easy and quick and can give you a fast relief from wisdom tooth pain.
If you are experiencing wisdom tooth pain or any other kind of tooth pain, contact Rocky Ridge Dental today to discuss your options.
Treating Tooth Pain
As we mentioned above, tooth pain can come in many different forms.
Some people experience a sharp surge of pain when biting down on the affected tooth or putting pressure on it, and some tooth pains are a more persistent dull pain.
If your pain is persistent over several days and not alleviated by gentle brushing of the tooth and gum, contact us to make an appointment to see a dental specialist.
Book and appointment or speak with one of our dental professionals at the Rocky Ridge dental office by calling us at (403) 244 2273.
